The next time Raven emerges from her room and makes her way to the common room it's just in time to see Starfire fly in through the window. Three squabbling, screaming, laughing Aspects clutched in her arms. The alien princess goes tumbling into the sofa, much to her passengers delight, gasping for breaths in-between her giggles. All three of the Aspects spring up and turn to the room, vibrating with manic energy. Eyes darting around as if finding the quickest way to cause chaos.
Two aspects, one a pastel yellow and another a creamy white with a perlecent sheen, sending rainbows skipping across their skin, immediately scurried off. Raven had to quickly fly out of the way and press herself against the wall as they sped through the door. A few seconds later there was a distant crash and a cry of laughter.
Patience sighed deeply and moved over to help the still breathless Star to her feet. The last Aspect was covered in soft fur and a bright, buttercup yellow. His hair was stuck up all over the place and floppy silky ears bounced about his face. Upon catching sight of Raven they bounded over and before she could react had swept her up into a hug.
"Rae Rae!"
With their chin hooked over her shoulder Raven could do nothing but let them spin her around. Not least because a sudden rush of giddiness had zipped through her. Leaving the normally dower Titan fighting back giggles. No wonder Star had crashed. The bright, effervescent feeling of pure joy demanded to bubble out in the form of laughter.
"I missed you!" cried the Aspect, releasing her. They caught sight of Cyborg and ran over to subject him to the same treatment. Raven caught her breath.
As she did so the lift opened, admitting Charity and two other Aspects. Both of which were various shades of pink, and both of which brightened, smiles stretching across their faces and eyes shining as they saw her. Raven felt herself freeze, the feelings brushing against her senses causing her heart to skip in anticipation.
However, before the Aspects could take more than a few steps they were thwarted.
"Nononononon!" breathed Modesty in a rush. Spreading their limbs wide to hide Raven from view. A heavy blush sat upon their cheeks. "No, nope, no! Not happening. Back, back, back!"
Raven blinked, having forgotten that Modesty was around, as the normally quiet Aspect herded the other two away. They seemed bigger than before. Perhaps their size directly corresponded to the amount of embarrassment they were feeling at the time?
Cyborg wondered over, acting once again as a port in the storm, Star stumbled behind him, still suppressing giggles. "Who are the new arrivals?" Raven asked.
"Compassion and Faith. They're the two, like, glowing ones. With the wings and the ears."
"Yeah, they're…something" muttered Raven. Feeling the bright shining notes the Aspects added to the song being woven all around her. Uplifting and fulfilling. Carrying the melody almost all on their own.
"We found them with Pain and Grief. Don't touch them by the way, apparently bad things will happen. We also brought in Hatred, but he was taken down by Marcy pretty much as soon as we arrived. The both of them are unexpected to say the least. Robin's getting them set up in the training room for the time being."
"Where's Courage?" asked Raven.
'Oh, well. Apparently, he felt Fear close to us and ran off. Robin's not happy about it I can tell you, but I'm sure he'll be back soon. Guy seemed alright to me."
Raven nodded, turning to her other teammate, who was still infectiously smiling, checks flushed with lingering happiness. "And you Star? Who were those terrors you brought in? I'm pretty sure two of them are destroying the tower as we speak."
"Yeah, getting hugged by the bright yellow one felt weird. A good weird though. Like I'd been filled with pop or something. All fizzy like," added Cyborg.
"That's Joy" giggled Starfire. "They're great. Bouncy. The pastel yellow one is Curiosity and the pearly one is Muse, I think? They said something about being BB's sense of creativity and inspiration."
"Wow" deadpanned Raven, thinking about that combination. All of the three Aspects had been around BB's actual age, but the youthful exuberance of their emotions couldn't be denied. "I can't see that combination causing any form of trouble."
Cyborg groaned, but he was smiling. "We're going to be finding broken stuff and prank traps for weeks. Let's hope they don't get their hands on any glitter."
"What about the others? The pink ones?"
Star went slightly pink herself, giving Raven a pointed look. Raven blinked in surprise, pointed looks were not something Star generally dished out. The alien princess didn't normally go in for quiet subtly. "They're friend BB's sense of love. The brighter pink is romantic, they call themselves Love. The other is his platonic love. Of us, his friends mostly. They call themselves Affection. They've been quite talkative," said Starfire brightly.
"Ohh" said Cyborg with glee. "Being getting some juicy gossips have you Star?"
Starfire giggled, "Affection very fun. It is nice to hear of friends Beast Boys appreciation for us all. He really likes hugs." She looked to Raven once again, a softer look coming over her face. "Love has been asking after you Raven. He's very devoted."
"Ohhh snap" muttered Cyborg. Wincing, perhaps in secondhand embarrassment for his best friend. Raven felt herself turn pink.
Star continued, laying a deceptively dainty hand on Ravens shoulder. "You should talk to him."
Raven pulled away, looking elsewhere and keeping quiet. Starfire's shoulders dropped in disappointment.
They were all quickly distracted by Robin entering the room, shifting the alien princess attention as sure as the sun rises. She flew over to greet him, leaving Raven blinking away the sparkle of emerald energy left in her wake.
There was a few second of comfortable silence. Predictably, it didn't last long. "Sooooo" drawled Cyborg. Raven tensed all over again. "You gonna go and say hi? He's been looking over here all this time."
It was true, Modesty was keeping a close guard over Love but Affection had been released to bother Robin. The sight of Robin gingerly patting a prattling Affection on the back while looking imploringly to a laughing Starfire was humorous.
"Not now Cy" muttered Raven, pulling her hood up.
"Why not?" said Cyborg, not unkindly. "It can't come as a surprise to you Rae. BB's hardly been subtle. I don't think he knows how."
"I know."
"Then why the silence Rae?" said Cyborg, more seriously. "I haven't asked cause I figured it's not my business. Not until BB stops coming to me complaining about how pretty yours eyes are instead of saying anything to your face at least. But this might be the time. You can confirm his feelings for real. They're right there."
Raven flushed harder, duking her head lower. Did BB really think her eyes were pretty? Still, her stomach turned with lingering anxiety. With fear.
She glanced up, finding those green eyes watching her and quickly dropped her gaze to the floor. She couldn't explain the fear she felt. The hesitation holding her back. Even as a pleased, delighted curl of happiness bloomed in her chest.
Cruelty's words echoed through her head. Killing the feeling and leaving unease rolling in its place. The fear of admitting to her feelings, the fear of cruelly toying with her friends feelings, the fear of losing their affection, the fear of accepting their affection. It all swirled within her. She didn't know what to do.
"Hey, hey" said Cyborg, voice low and soothing. "Clam down. Didn't mean to push you. Forget I said anything. Like I said, it's none of my business."
"No. No your right" said Raven, gathering herself and lifting her head. This time when she met emerald eyes, she kept their gaze watching as the Aspect lit upon from within. "I need to talk to BB. To give him an answer. Just, not now. Not when he's like this."
Cyborg nodded, "fair enough. And hay, whatever you decided I've got your back. You and BBs." He gave her a long look. "It won't change us. The Titans will be fine. No one will be angry. We're family, remember."
Raven gave Cyborg a wane smile. Not correcting him about the nature of her feelings. Her fear didn't stem from the thought of rejection. A rejection would be simple.
Courage arrived, carrying a small shivering dull ashy brown child Aspect. They kept their face buried in Courage's shaggy red hair. The older Aspect carried them effortlessly, strong arms keeping them safe and soothing hands running up and down their spine. Robin gave the Aspect a disapproving frown but was ignored.
The Tower grew increasingly crowded. Closing her eyes Raven focused on the feelings, trying to block out all but those belonging to the Aspects. The chords were chiming together, the melody clear and bright. The echoes and reverberations of emotion blending and weaving into each-other as they should. For a moment it felt like BB was whole again. That he was just next to her. Stable and beautiful in the way of a perfectly imperfect person. There was just one little disconnect. One little note still missing, the last instrument to the orchestra.
"Is this all the Aspects?" asked Robin, voice ringing over the noise of the room. "Don't tell me there's more," he begged with feeling.
Serenity gave a small smile. "There's one more." Robin's shoulders dropped, "but you don't need to worry. They will come when the time is right."
"What? What does that mean."
"Do not worry" soothed Faith, their awe-inspiring presence causing Robin to stutter into silence. "Believe in us. The last of us will come. Now we only need the ritual."
They turned to Raven. She straightened up and dropped her cloak. "I'm going to need a little time to prepare. The ritual takes three parts and each of them are delicate. Firstly, I need to 'loosen' the soul as it were, then capture all the Aspects of it before directing it to merge together. Without damaging it."
"You think you can do it though?" asked Robin.
"I know she can" said Faith, giving a shinning smile.
Raven felt uplifted by the Aspects belief. "I can. But I'm going to need to make a lot of preparations. The ritualists used a very complicated array of glyphs, scripture and chanting. Since I'm doing this by myself I'm going to need something even more complicated. It's going to take a lot of space."
"I can clear the garage for you. Would that work?" asked Cyborg.
"Yes. Thank you. Also, I need some of your blood." Raven said, addressing Serenity.
The Aspect blinked but nodded all the same. "Whatever you need. Just mine?"
"All of you if you can. But definitely some from the most powerful Aspects. Those of you that are the cornerstones of BB's personality are imperative. You will be the pillars that BB's soul will be re-built upon."
"Like the corner pieces of a puzzle?" asked Starfire, confused.
"Yeah, something like that Star. But having the other Aspects will help as well. I don't need much, a few millilitres or so each."
"What will happen if you don't have blood?" asked Wisdom.
"It's difficult to say. If everything is going smoothly, I should be able to merge the Aspects without it. But there is a possibility of losing one of you in the process."
"That doesn't sound ideal. What would happen to BB if that happens? We already lost Bloodlust."
"Most likely he will lose that part of himself. For good."
Serenity nodded seriously. "We'll get it to you. From all the Aspects."
Raven relaxed, glad that her unusual request hadn't been met with protest. Having blood would make everything so much easier. Even so, this was going to be tough. There was a reason the ritualists had done a number of human sacrifices. Gathering magical energy and controlling it was no small matter. Even for one of her heritage.
Faith laid a hand on her shoulder, bringing with him a powerful burst of confidence and warmth. Raven basked in their smile. "Relax. You can do this. Have faith."
—
Raven groaned as she stood from her stoop. Wiping the sweat of her brow, hands coloured pitch with the ichor she was using to draw the glyphs. The empty hanger ran with the faintest of sounds, cold and eerie. The sound of footsteps not her own trembled loudly around the room.
Love smiled when she turned to look at him, trotting over with clear excitement. "Raven" he breathed happily, stopping on the very edge of the ritual circle.
"You managed to ditch Modesty then?" she dryly noted. Not seeing hide nor hair of the blue furred Aspect.
Love laughed and shook his head, "Courage and Arrogance started showing off to Star. It's keeping him occupied."
"That so" said Raven, walking closer. Cursing herself for being weak. Cruelty and Cyborgs words hung over her like a cloud and her own mixed feelings had her stomach rolling in anxiety, but she couldn't help but draw closer. She wanted to see.
To see the physical representation of BB's feelings for her. The real proof of their existence, past her own intrusive powers. To have that green eyed gaze focused on her and only her. To compare him to the other Aspects she had seen. To see if her was childish or old, if he stood strong and confident or meek and withdrawn.
To see what impact she had on BB's heart.
The Aspect was a bright pink, almost garishly so, but gradients of lighter white and deeper purple softened him. Everything about the Aspect seemed soft really. The way he stood, relaxed and content. The fluffy curl of his hair, no animal ears in sight. The hazy green of his eyes. Milked over and placid.
"You're blind" realized Raven, surprised.
The Aspect smiled; blunt teeth strange to see. "Only in one respect." He took a step forward, neatly hopping over the drying glyphs she had drawn. Suddenly close and personal. His warm breath, almost sweet, wafted over her forehead. "Raven" he breathed once more.
She cleared her throat, dipping her head and taking a small step back. "H-How are the others? Any problems?" she cursed herself all over again for stuttering.
Love huffed fondly. Raven froze as a soft leathery hand cupped her face. The touch warm and entrancing. Slowly Love tiled her head up to face him.
A smile tugged at one side of his mouth. "I wish you wouldn't do that." He trailed his blunt nails up her cheek, tucking a falling lock of hair behind her ear. A shiver raced down her spine, mouth suddenly dry. "Looking away. Distracting. Diverting. I'm not going anywhere Raven" he whispered, drawing even closer until only a scant inch separated them.
The heat of his body burned across her. "I wasn't…" she tried to deny, but those blind eyes saw right through her weak denials.
"You were, but it's alright." The Aspect lapsed into silence. Slowly continuing to stroke his thumb over her cheek. Raven couldn't move an inch, caught between moving forward and fleeing to a safer, colder distance. "So beautiful" he muttered, entranced.
Raven flushed, the embarrassment enough to break her trance. She pushed him back half a step but no further. His hand dropped from her face, making it much easier to think. Instead, it cupped her own where it remained on his chest. Squeezing her black tipped fingers gently.
His palm engulfed hers. His chest was firm beneath her fingertips. The crown of her head only just touched his chin. It struck Raven just how solid the Aspect was beneath his soft exterior. The strength of him hidden in the familiar lanky frame. The actual size of him, a reflection on Beast Boys feelings for her.
She swallowed heavily, heart beating rapidly, at the living proof of the depth of his love for her.
"Raven" said Love for the third time.
"Don't" she said quickly, cutting him off. "Don't say anything. I-I'm not ready to hear it" she admitted weakly. Too much of a coward.
The Aspect stilled and for a time there was nothing but the sound of their breathing. Slowly falling in sync. "Okay" said Love. He pressed her hand more firmly to his chest. Enough for her to feel the heavy thundering of his own heart. "But I am here Raven. Whether you are ready to hear it. Whether you return my feelings. I exist and I am real. And I'm not going anywhere."
"You don't know that" she whispered, almost pleadingly. "You can't know that."
That was the crutch of it wasn't it? The root of all her fear. That one day she could have this-the kind words and stumbling affections, the depth and willingness to understand-and the next it would be gone. Blown away with the wind. By another pair of pretty eyes and a bright laugh. Either she would crush it with her own hands, or it would wither and die to bloom bright in more fertile soil.
"I cannot see the future Raven" admitted the Aspect. Raven curled her fingers, pushing against that strong chest. Love didn't move an inch. "But neither can you."
Her breath stalled along with her heart. The words echoed. She looked up.
Those familiar emerald eyes were watching her behind their milky film in the same way they always were. Alive and dancing with warmth and a spark of desire. It was only her own palm stopping him drawing closer. A living sculpture of their relationship. All she had to do was drop her hand.
Her fingers trembled, strength waning. Breath sharp and wanting. Beast Boy pressed an inch closer.
"Love?" rang an unexpected voice. Raven started, realized all over again his closeness and felt a hot flush parade up her spine. In a second, she had retreated. The gap between them opening up again. Her skin cold and wanting. Mixed regret and relief flowed through her.
"Faith" sighed Love. Giving her one last longing look before turning away. Once again, he hopped over the glyphs, taking care not to smear her hard work. The golden Aspect gave him an inquisitive look.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just…talking" said Love, eyes lingering. Raven pulled her cloak over her face, sure her cheeks must be burning and firmly kept her eyes on the floor. The ichor on her hands had hardened into a flaky mess. She picked it from her nails.
Faith gave Love an assessing look, resting a hand on the shorters shoulder and squeezing. "All in time" he advised. "I think you might benefit from talking to Patience for a bit. He could do with a hand corralling Joy and Curiosity. They've taken to pranking Robin and it's not good for his blood pressure."
Love bit his lip, looking like he might protest. "All in time" repeated Faith. Words heavy with meaning. The pink aspect released a long sigh but nodded. He dragged his feet as he left and stood a long time in the doorway. Raven was sure if she dared to look up that he would be looking at her. She burrowed down in the shadows of her cloak.
Love left, taking the weight of the room with him. Raven breathed freely for the first time. Emotions calming.
"Are you alright?" asked Faith, calling across the room. Raven was grateful he kept his distance.
"I'm fine" she said. The Aspect gave her a long assessing look.
"Forgive Love for being pushy. Without moderation he can be a rather impassioned emotion. I didn't realize he would make you so uncomfortable."
"I wasn't uncomfortable" she reflexively denied.
"Oh" one brilliant golden eyebrow raised. "Then what did he make you feel?"
She remained quiet, struck mute.
"I don't know what you're feeling Raven. Having doubts is normal. Hesitation is normal," they said seriously. 'But have trust in the relationship you have now. In your own feelings. Nothing in this life is certain past the present moment. So, trust in that moment."
Having said his piece Faith left. Leaving behind a dust of golden scales and a wavering heart. Mind spinning Raven mixed herself some new ichor, crouched on clicking knees and got back to inscribing. The glyphs flowed from her fingers as feelings flowed in her heart.
—
After several hours of arm-wrestling competitions, training simulations, pranks, clean up, nap time and several shouting matches Raven announced the ritual was ready. The Aspects were quick to gather, the more violent being led by force to the hanger.
Within moments Raven was left alone at the top of the tower with only Serenity and Instinct. The animal Aspect would have to climb down to the hanger as before.
"What about the last Aspect?" she asked. The open window brought with it a strong breeze.
"Instinct will call them now," said the Serenity. Looking out across the bay, squinting against the setting sun.
Instinct lumbered to his feet. Raven drew back, she had forgotten the sheer size of the Aspect. True to Serenity's word the beast had been happy to play the part of a new living room sofa for the day. Raven had near forgotten the sheer immensity of the behemoth. The stink of musk and heat of a hungry predator that rose to fill the room. The hairs on the back of her neck were already standing on end.
Then the beast drew itself up, threw back its great maned head, and howled.
The sound shook the Tower. Raven clapped her hands to her ears, falling to her knees at the strength of the noise. The summons drew itself out, long and mournful. Calling and calling, before puttering into nothing.
The silence hung with anticipation. The breeze ruffled Serenity's hair, standing tall and unbowed by the beast.
A screech, high and strong, like that of a hunting bird, returned the call. A figure cut the sky as it fell. Free diving in the crimson sunset, splitting the cloud cover in two with the speed of their flight.
A second before impact wide iridescent wings parachuted their decent. They touched down with mirage like grace and gentleness. Wings shrinking to fit the room as they flowed in, coming to stand by their beastly counterpart.
The new Aspect stretched up, neck elongating as they did so. Instinct crouched and the two delicately touched noses. Scenting each other. The beast huffed, the unknown let out a trill. They drew back.
Instinct jumped out the window, taking the express route down to the hanger. Raven took in the new arrival. They…flowed. Every colour, every limb constantly changing. Iridescent greens, blues, purples, oranges flowed down their form. Feathers shifted to fur shifted to scale shifted to skin before she could make sense of them. Nothing was constant, nothing was still.
Yet, they fit. Nothing about them was out of place. Every step was measured. Every movement was grace. They had the kind of diligent disciplined control of movement that every dancer dreamed of.
With the constant shifting it was hard to settle on any facial expressions, but Raven got the impression of huge wide eyes rimmed with bright feathers and crowned with spiralling horns.
"This is Free" introduced Serenity. He looked at the Aspect and once again there was a careful, almost ritual touching of noses and foreheads. A silent but solemn greeting. "It's time to go back now," said Serenity. Free bobbed their fragile bird like head. "The others are waiting below. I will see you down there."
A trill, another small touch and the new Aspect also tumbled off the edge. Wings springing wide, catching the wind and sending them spiralling into the sunset. The Aspect flew high, doing a single pirouette and tumble. Crying long and high for the joy of it before falling once more. There was a brilliance in them that Raven could not place.
"It's the want of life. The strive to survive and the joy of doing so."
"That doesn't sound very animal?" commented Raven.
"Doesn't it?" said Serenity blandly, eyes still affixed on the falling figure. "And yet all animals feel it. The push to live another day. The spark of a new sunrise. The fear and terror of death. The press of the wind and the water and the grass and the forest around them. It's all one thing."
He turned, saw the look of confusion on her face and gave a half shrug. "It is a difficult emotion to explain with something so limited as words. Think of them the part of us that joys in living, breathing, being. And being at home anywhere, as anything."
Serenity shook his head, realizing he would never be able to put to words the feeling of being an animal, every animal. Of feeling life stretch out around and within you. That delicate but immensely robust spark of the universe.
"It doesn't matter. Shall we go?"